Barbecue, apparatus, and method for improved temperature distribution, heat retention, and flare-up prevention

Abstract

Provided is a barbecue apparatus for preventing flare-ups and improving temperature distribution and heat retention when cooking on a barbecue. The apparatus comprises at least one plate that is movable between a first position lying atop a respective side of at least one burner tent and a second position withdrawn from the respective side of the at least one burner tent. Further provided are a barbecue comprising said apparatus and a method of preventing flare-ups and improving temperature distribution and heat retention when cooking on a barbecue by moving at least one plate between a first position lying atop a respective side of at least one burner tent and a second position withdrawn from the respective side of the at least one burner tent.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for use with a barbecue firebox, the barbecue firebox comprising a bottom wall, peripheral walls projecting upward from the bottom wall around a perimeter thereof, at least one burner, and a burner tent suspended above the at least one burner so as to collect heat from the burner when the burner is in use; said apparatus comprising:
 at least one plate pivotally suspended in the barbecue firebox in a manner aligned parallel to the at least one burner tent and movable between a first position lying flush atop, and covering a substantial majority of, a respective side of the at least one burner tent in direct physical contact therewith to collect heat therefrom and block drippings from accumulating thereon, and a second position withdrawn from the respective side of the at least one burner tent to emit the collected heat from the at least one pivotal plate at a position laterally outward therefrom; and 
 a control mechanism operable to pivot the at least one plate between the first position and the second position to alternate the at least one plate between a heat collecting and drip blocking state preventing flare-ups, and a heat emitting state improving heat distribution throughout the barbecue firebox. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising two plates pivotally suspended in the barbecue firebox, and wherein the control mechanism is arranged to automatically move one of the two plates from the first position to the second position during movement of the other of the two plates from the second position to the first position. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the barbecue firebox comprises two burners covered by two respective burner tents, the apparatus comprises two plates pivotally suspended between the two burner tents and each movable between the first and second positions in relation to a respective one of the two burner tents, wherein the control mechanism is arranged to automatically move one of the two plates from the first position to the second position during movement of the other of the two plates from the second position to the first position. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the two are spaced apart from one another in a parallel alignment and are joined together by a connector that is pivotally coupled to each of said two plates. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control mechanism is a manual control mechanism. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control mechanism comprises a movable rod. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein each plate is pivotally suspended in the barbecue firebox through pivotal engagement with said rod. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein two opposing peripheral walls of the barbecue firebox each comprise at least one aperture and the rod is supported by said opposing peripheral walls by passing through at least one of said apertures in each of said opposing peripheral walls. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the rod comprises at least one notch on its underside that allows the rod to be stably maintained in a fixed position through engagement between said at least one notch and the edge of at least one peripheral wall aperture passed through by said rod. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the rod comprises at least two spaced apart notches on its underside, a first notch positioned to allow the rod to be stably maintained in a first position that aligns at least one plate in the first position lying atop a respective side of at least one burner tent and a second notch positioned to allow the rod to be stably maintained in a second position that aligns at least one plate in the second position withdrawn from the respective side of at least one burner tent. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the rod is a U-shaped rod and each plate is pivotally suspended in the barbecue firebox through pivotal engagement with each arm of said rod. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the number of plates is equal to the number of burner tent faces. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 1 , in combination with a barbecue. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the at least one plate comprises a plurality of plates arranged in one or more cooperating pairs, and the control mechanism is arranged to simultaneously pivot the plates in each cooperating pair in a same common direction. 
     
     
       15. A method of improving heat distribution and preventing flare-ups when cooking with a barbecue, said barbecue comprising a barbecue firebox, said barbecue firebox comprising a bottom wall, peripheral walls projecting upward from the bottom wall around a perimeter thereof, at least one burner, and a burner tent suspended above the at least one burner so as to collect heat from the burner when the burner is in use; said method comprising moving at least one plate during the cooking process between a first position lying flush atop, and covering a substantial majority of, a respective side of the at least one burner tent in direct physical contact therewith to collect heat therefrom and block drippings from accumulating thereon, and a second position withdrawn from the respective side of the at least one burner tent to emit the collected heat from the at least one pivotal plate at a position laterally outward therefrom, whereby movement of the at least one plate between the first and second positions alternates the at least one plate between a heat collecting and drip blocking state preventing flare-ups, and a heat emitting state improving heat distribution throughout the barbecue firebox. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one plate comprises a plurality of plates pivotally suspended in the barbecue firebox through engagement of said plurality of plates with a rod, and the plurality of plates are moved between the first and second positions by moving said rod. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 15  wherein the at least one plate comprises two plates, and the method comprises simultaneously moving a one of said two plates from the first position to the second position while moving the other of said two plates from the second position to the first position. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 15  wherein the barbecue firebox comprises two burners covered by two respective burner tents and two plates are pivotally suspended between the two burner tents, and the method comprises automatically and simultaneously moving one of the two plates from the first position to the second position during movement of the other of the two plates from the second position to the first position. 
     
     
       19. An apparatus for use with a barbecue firebox, the barbecue firebox comprising a bottom wall, peripheral walls projecting upward from the bottom wall around a perimeter thereof, at least one burner, and a burner tent suspended above the at least one burner so as to collect heat from the burner when the burner is in use; said apparatus comprising:
 at least one plate arranged to be pivotally suspended in the barbecue firebox in an alignment parallel to the at least one burner tent in a manner movable a first position lying flush atop, and covering a substantial majority of, a respective side of the at least one burner tent in direct physical contact therewith to collect heat therefrom and block drippings from accumulating thereon, and a second position withdrawn from the respective side of the at least one burner tent to emit the collected heat from the at least one pivotal plate at a position laterally outward therefrom; and 
 a control mechanism arranged to be operable in a manner pivoting the at least one plate between the first position and the second position to alternate the at least one plate between a heat collecting and drip blocking state preventing flare-ups, and a heat emitting state improving heat distribution throughout the barbecue firebox. 
 
     
     
       20. The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the at least one plate comprises a plurality of plates arranged in one or more cooperating pairs, and the control mechanism is arranged to simultaneously pivot the plates in each cooperating pair in a same common direction.